Maintenance workers at the Scotiabank Centre in Halifax made an interesting discovery during the holiday season. While replacing a protective panel in the freight elevator, they stumbled upon a pristine autograph belonging to Steven Tyler, the lead vocalist of the famous rock band Aerosmith.
Aerosmith had performed at the Halifax rink at least twice, with their last show on December 28, 1993, at the then Halifax Metro Centre. The tickets for the concert were priced at $32.50.
Adria Young, a spokesperson for Events East, the organization overseeing the Scotiabank Centre and Halifax Convention Centre, expressed excitement about finding Tyler’s autograph, considering it a valuable piece of rock history within their facility. Aerosmith, known for selling over 150 million albums worldwide and being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, holds significant cultural relevance.
Young mentioned that starting from the late 1980s, artists and bands often used the freight elevator to move from the loading bay to the arena, leading to a tradition of signing the elevator walls over time. Alongside Steven Tyler’s autograph, signatures from other renowned personalities such as Axl Rose of Guns N’ Roses and Bryan Adams were remembered by long-term staff members.
While the wall with these signatures was eventually painted over in the late 1990s to address aesthetic concerns, the recently uncovered Steven Tyler autograph remained intact. Young noted that it had been approximately two decades since the autograph was last visible, surprising many within the building upon its rediscovery.
Despite the historical significance of the finding, visitors hoping to view the autograph in person will be disappointed, as the protective panel has been reinstalled after the maintenance work.
In a related incident from the Aerosmith concert on December 28, 1993, counterfeit band T-shirts were being sold by unauthorized vendors inside the venue, leading to legal repercussions for the offenders. The culprits were fined in Halifax provincial court for breaching the federal Copyright Act. One of them was later caught selling counterfeit shirts at a 1995 Bon Jovi concert in Halifax.
The discovery of Steven Tyler’s autograph serves as a remarkable reminder of Scotiabank Centre’s rich legacy as a hub for sports and entertainment in the Atlantic region for nearly half a century. Young expressed hope for uncovering more hidden treasures from past artists, athletes, and figures within the facility in the future.